Texas Tech Visits Allen Fieldhouse with Big 12 Title on the Line

 GAME 29
#2/2 KANSAS (24-4, 12-3 Big 12)
vs. Texas Tech (18-9, 8-7 Big 12
Date Saturday, Feb. 27
Time 11 a.m. Central
Location Lawrence, Kan.
Arena Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
 LIVE COVERAGE
TV ESPN
Video WatchESPN
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Audio KUathletics.com/radio
Stats KUathletics.com
Social Twitter | Instagram | #kubball
KU STATS TTU
82.1 Points 73.2
68.3 Points Allowed 69.3
.490 Field Goal % .446
38.1 Rebounds 34.7
15.9 Assists 13.2
4.1 Blocks 4.4
6.6 Steals 5.7

Notes Links Kansas Game Notes (.pdf)
Notes Links Texas Tech Game Notes (.pdf)
Notes Links Big 12 Game Notes (.pdf)
Tickets Link Tickets

No. 2/2 Kansas (24-4, 12-3 Big 12) returns to the friendly confines of Allen Fieldhouse to host Texas Tech (18-9, 8-7), Saturday, at 11 a.m. on ESPN. A win for the Jayhawks will guarantee them as least a share of their 12th-straight Big 12 regular-season title, which would bring the program’s total to 16 Big 12 titles, and an NCAA-leading 59 overall conference regular-season crowns.

The Jayhawks and Red Raiders bring two of the longest winning streaks in the country into Saturday’s game. Having won eight straight games, Kansas is third among the nation’s active winning streaks behind Stephen F. Austin (14) and Northern Iowa (9). Texas Tech’s five-game winning streak is tied for 12th nationally. Kansas is coming off a 66-60 win at No. 19/16 Baylor Feb. 23. Texas Tech defeated TCU, 83-79, on Feb. 23 to win its fifth-straight contest.

KU also holds the nation’s active longest home court winning streak at 40 games, which includes 38 victories inside Allen Fieldhouse.

KU SPORTING adidas BLACK HISTORY MONTH UNIFORMS
Inspired by Jayhawk uniforms of the 1950s, adidas and Kansas Athletics unveiled special uniforms at Baylor (2/23) to honor Black History Month. The Jayhawks will don the cream home uniform version against Texas Tech on Saturday. The jerseys feature classic block lettering and numbers used during basketball’s early years. The jersey includes crimson, blue and white accents, while the shorts feature a two-color stripe as a nod to Kansas’ classic look and feel. 

ABOUT KANSAS
Kansas averages 82.1 points per game and has a +13.9 scoring margin. The Jayhawks are fourth nationally with a 42.3 3-point field goal percentage. KU pulls down an average of 38.1 rebounds per game and has a +5.4 rebound margin. The Jayhawks also average 15.9 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.1 blocked shots per contest.

Senior F Perry Ellis leads Kansas in scoring (16.4 ppg) and is second in rebounding (6.1 rpg). Ellis has eight games of scoring 19 or more points in Big 12 play this season, including four 20-point efforts. Ellis is averaging 17.9 points and 5.9 rebounds during Big 12 play. Junior G Wayne Selden Jr., pulled down six rebounds at Baylor (2/23), which were his most in Big 12 play this season. Selden is second on the team with a 13.8 scoring average and has made a team-high 61 3-point field goals. Selden is eighth in the Big 12 in scoring, third in 3-point  field goals made per game at 2.2 and sixth in 3-point field goal percentage at 42.1 percent. Junior G Frank Mason III led all scorers in each of his last two games with with 16 points at Kansas State (2/20) and 19 points at Baylor (2/23). Mason has 14 assists with two turnovers in his last three games. Mason is scoring 13.5 points per game, which 12th in the Big 12. He is fifth in the league with a 4.6 assist average and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.4. Mason has a team-high 38 steals, which is two more than sophomore G Devonte’ Graham‘s36.Graham, who was named Big 12 Player of the Week (2/15), has averaged 13.5 points in his last four games. He is scoring 11.1 points per game and is fifth in the Big 12 with a 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio and ninth with 3.6 assists per game. Junior F Landen Lucas rounds out the KU starters. He took over the team lead in rebound average at 6.1, which is eighth in the Big 12. Lucas has averaged 10.8 rebounds in his last five games. Included was his second double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Oklahoma State (2/15).

Junior G Brannen Greene is a regular who has made 29 3-pointers this season and scores 6.5 points per game off the bench. Sophomore G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk is 4-for-6 from 3-point range in his last two games. Mykhailiuk averages 5.4 points and has made 26 3-pointers this season. Freshman F Carlton Bragg Jr. is averaging 3.9 ppg and 2.4 rpg and freshman Cheick Diallo  (3.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) is 10th in the conference with 0.9 blocked shots per game. Senior F Jamari Traylor (3.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg) is a high-energy forward who has started seven games in 2015-16 and is tied 11th in the Big 12 with 0.9 blocked shots per game. Senior F Hunter Mickelson, who has started 10 games this season, is averaging 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds and his 1.0 blocked shots per game are eighth in the Big 12. 

CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Kansas has won 15 of the 19 Big 12 regular-season titles, including the last 11, which ranks tied for second on the NCAA all-time consecutive list. Kansas’ 58 conference titles are the most in NCAA Division I history. Kentucky is second with 52 and Penn is third at 37. KU’s 11 consecutive titles hasn’t been a cakewalk either.

CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE REGULAR-SEASON TITLES
13 /// UCLA, Pac-10 (1967-79)
11* /// KANSAS, Big 12 (2005-15)
11 /// Gonzaga, West Coast (2001-11)
10 /// Connecticut, Yankee (1951-60)
10 /// UNLV, Big West (1983-92)
9 /// Idaho State, Rocky Mountain (1953-61)
9 /// Kentucky, Southeastern (1944-52)

* active streak

ABOUT TEXAS TECH
Located in Lubbock, Texas, with an enrollment of 35,893, Texas Tech is 18-9 on the season, including 8-7 in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders are receiving votes in both national polls as they bring a five-game winning streak, which includes three wins versus ranked foes, to Allen Fieldhouse. Texas Tech is coached by Tubby Smith who is 45-46 in his third season at Tech and 556-272 in his 25th season overall. Texas Tech averages 73.2 points per game and has a +3.9 scoring margin. The Red Raiders pull down 34.7 rebounds per contest and have a +1.3 rebound margin. Tech also averages 13.2 assists, 5.7 steals and 4.4 blocked shots per game.

Texas Tech has a balanced attack as its top seven scorers average between 10.9 and 8.6 points per game. Senior G Toddrick Gotcher averages 10.9 points per outing and has made a team-high 51 3-pointers. Gotcher pulls down 3.7 rebounds per game, leads Tech with 27 steals and is making 85.3 percent from the free throw line. Senior G Devaugntah Williams is next in scoring at 10.8 points per game. Williams has 25 steals and is second on the team with 30 3-pointers made this season. Junior F Aaron Ross leads Texas Tech in league games with a 13.1 scoring average. For the season, Ross, who comes off the bench, scores 10.7 points and pulls down 4.5 rebounds per outing. Sophomore F Zach Smith is a starter who leads Texas Tech with 7.1 rebounds per game, which is sixth in the Big 12. Smith scores 10.3 points per game and his 1.6 blocked shots per contest are fourth in the league. Sophomore C Norense Odiase averages 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while sophomore F Justin Gray averages 8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore G Keenan Evans (8.6 ppg, 25 steals) is a starter who has a team-high 75 assists. Other Tech regulars include junior F Matthew Temple (3.4 ppg) and junior G Devon Thomas (2.7 ppg, 39 assists).

THE SERIES
Kansas leads the overall series with Texas Tech, 30-4, in a series that began in 1959. The Jayhawks have won 13-straight in the series since Jan. 16, 2010. Kansas is 15-0 against Texas Tech in games played in Lawrence, with all 15 contests in Allen Fieldhouse. Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, Kansas is 23-4 against Texas Tech; 20-4 in regular-season match-ups and 3-0 in conference championship meetings. Kansas head coach Bill Self is 17-6 all-time against Texas Tech, including 16-3 while at Kansas. Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith is 2-8 versus Kansas, 0-5 while at TTU.

Earlier this season, behind double-doubles from Frank Mason III and Perry Ellis, Kansas defeated Texas Tech 69-59 on Jan. 9 at United Supermarkets Arena. Mason led all scorers with 17 points and tied Ellis with 10 rebounds. Ellis chipped in 15 points. The Jayhawks led 29-27 at halftime and its 69 points were a season low in a KU win in 2015-16 until KU’s last win, 66-60, at Baylor (2/23). KU won the battle of the boards outrebounding Texas tech 42-26. Norense Odiase led Tech with 14 points, while teammate Toddrick Gotcher added 13 points.

KANSAS NOTABLES
• Kansas’ eight-game winning streak is tied for the third longest active streak in NCAA Division I – Stephen F. Austin (13), Northern Iowa (9), KANSAS (8),  Boston (7), UT Martin (7).
• With Texas’ loss to Baylor at home Feb. 20, Kansas is the only team in the Big 12 with an undefeated league record at home (7-0) in 2015-16.
• Kansas leads the Big 12 in scoring margin at +13.9. KU also ranks in the top three in the Big 12 in scoring offense (second at 82.1), field goal percentage (second at 49.0), 3-point field goal percentage (second at 42.3), 3-point field goals made (tied for second at 8.4), assists (third at 15.9), rebound margin (third at +5.4) and assist-to-turnover ratio (third at 1.3).
• Kansas and Iowa State are the only two teams to have three players rank in the top 10 in the Big 12 in scoring.
• Kansas’ 82.1 scoring average is the best in the Self era (81.6 in 2009-10) and the highest since a 90.9 scoring average in 2001-02.
• Out of its 24 victories this season, Kansas has won by 10 or more points in 15 of those wins, including four of the last seven games. Five KU wins have been by 30 points or more.
• KU has out-shot 24 of 28 opponents, including each of their last seven opponents. KU is shooting 50.8 percent from the field in its last seven games.
• Kansas has shot 50 percent or better in six of its last seven games, eight Big 12 contests and 14 times overall this season.
• The Jayhawks have out-rebounded 21 of 28 foes, including eight of the last 10 contests. KU had a +18 rebound advantage against Oklahoma State (2/15), +21 at TCU (2/6) and +11 (42-31) versus Kentucky (1/30).
• Kansas has shot 40 percent or better from 3-point range in 19 of its 28 games, including four of the last five contests.
• The KU bench has outscored its opponents’ bench in 17 of 28 games this season and is 17-1 in those contests.
• KU has made seven or more 3-pointers in 21 of 28 games this season, including six of the last eight battles. KU has made 10 or more 3-pointers 10 times, including 15 threes vs. No. Colorado (11/13) and Chaminade (11/23), which were one off the school record.
• When guards Frank Mason III, Wayne Selden Jr. and Devonte’ Graham each score 10-plus points in the same game, KU is 13-0, including 7-0 in Big 12 play.
• Senior F Perry Ellis is one of two players in the Big 12 to rank in the top nine in scoring (third at 16.4 ppg) and rebounding (ninth at 6.1). The other is Georges Niang of Iowa State.
• Ellis has pulled down nine or more rebounds in eight games this season.
• Ellis has led KU in scoring in seven of 14 Big 12 games, averaging 17.9 points per Big 12 contest (16.4 ppg overall).
• Sophomore G Devonte’ Graham is 25-for-49 (51.0 percent) from the field in his last six games, including 16-for-35 (45.7 percent) from 3-point range. Graham is also 13-for-14 from the free throw line in that span.
• Junior G Wayne Selden Jr., is third in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made per game at 2.2 and sixth in 3-point field goal percentage at .421 for all games. Selden has made three or more 3-pointers in 13 games this season, including four versus Oklahoma State (2/15).
• Kansas’ 38-game winning streak in Allen Fieldhouse is the third longest in school history. In that span, KU has defeated 14 nationally-ranked opponents during the streak.
• Kansas is 32-6 when following a conference loss under Self with only one of those losses coming in Allen Fieldhouse (Feb. 19, 2005 vs. Iowa State).

COMPARING WINNING STREAKS
Kansas has posted two winning streaks of eight or more in 2015-16. KU’s 13-game winning streak from Nov. 23-Jan. 9 marked the 13th time in the Bill Self era that the Jayhawks have won 10 or more straight games. The 13-game streak included three ranked teams and three Big 12 foes, while the current run has been in league play, including three ranked opponents.

IN THE POLLS
In the most recent national rankings released on Feb. 22, Kansas is No. 2 both the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Kansas holds the longest active streak for consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 (139) and USA Today Coaches’ Poll (146). The Jayhawks are the only team in the country to maintain a top-7 national ranking in both polls for the entire season.

KANSAS MILESTONES
• Senior F Perry Ellis is only the 13th Jayhawk to reach the 1,600 point plateau, reaching the milestone at Kansas State (2/20). Ellis has 1,617 career points, which is 13th on the KU career scoring list. Earlier this season, Ellis became the 16th player in KU history to reach 700 career rebounds, currently 13th at 781. Ellis is the seven player in KU history to rank in the top 13 in both career points and career rebounds: Danny Manning (2,951 points/1,187 rebounds), Nick Collison (2,097 points/1,143 rebounds), Raef LaFrentz (2,066 points/1,186 rebounds), Clyde Lovellette (1,979 points/839 rebounds), Dave Robisch (1,754 points/815 rebounds) and Mark Randall (1,627 points/723 rebounds).
• Junior G Wayne Selden Jr., had 33 points against Kentucky (1/30) and in the process became the 57th Jayhawk to reach the 1,000-point plateau. He is 43rd on the KU scoring list at 1,066 points and ranks 13th on the KU career 3-pointers made list at 149 and 12th on the 3-pointers attempted list at 399.
• Junior G Frank Mason III surpassed the 1,000 points mark at Kansas State (2/20) and is the 58th Jayhawk to accomplish the feat. He is 56th at 1,020 career points. Mason ranks tied for 18th (Danning Manning (1985-88) on the KU career assists list, currently at 342. 

TRIO OF 1,000-POINT SCORERS
When junior G Frank Mason III surpassed the 1,000-points plateau, currently at 1,020, he joined teammates Perry Ellis (1,617) and Wayne Selden Jr. (1,066) who have also reached the milestone. Historically, this is only the sixth time in KU history there have been three or more 1,000-point scorers on the same floor with all three having scored 1,000 points at that time and the first since 2004-05. Kansas and Oklahoma are the only two Big 12 schools that have three active players with 1,000 points or more. OU has senior Buddy Hield, senior Isaiah Cousins and junior Jordan Woodard.

DOWNTOWN
Kansas is making 42.3 percent from 3-point range which is fourth nationally and second in the Big 12. At their current percentage pace, the 2015-16 Jayhawks would finish second on the school’s single-season 3-point field goal percentage list.

DOMINATING DEFENSE
In Bill Self’s previous 12 seasons at Kansas, the Jayhawks have led the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense eight times and finished no lower than fourth. Nationally, Self-coached Jayhawks have ranked eighth or higher in all but two seasons in field goal percentage defense and have ranked in the top five on eight occasions, including first in 2005-06 and 2011-12.

ELLIS: SENIOR C.L.A.S.S. AWARD FINALIST
Senior F Perry Ellis is one of 10 finalists for the 2015-16 Senior CLASS Award®. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

The finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 men’s candidates announced in January. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online through March 21 at SeniorCLASSaward.com. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. KU’s Wayne Simien won the Senior CLASS Award in 2005.

HOME SWEET HOME
Since his arrival at KU, Bill Self is 204-9 in games played at Allen Fieldhouse for a 95.8 winning percentage, which includes five undefeated home seasons. Self’s Big 12 conference titles (11) are more than his home losses while at Kansas (9). Included was a school-record 69-game home-court winning streak which led the nation for more than two seasons and ranks 11th all-time in the NCAA records book as well as two 33-plus game home-court winning streaks, including KU’s current streak of 37, which is fourth-longest in KU history. Kansas is 149-3 in Allen Fieldhouse in its last 152 games. Kansas is 741-109 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse.

THIS DAY IN KANSAS BASKETBALL HISTORY
Kansas is 3-2 all-time on Feb. 29
February 29, 2004: Wayne Simien, with 26 points and Keith Langford with 22 points, lead the Jayhawks to a 79-58 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas topped off a 12-0 run in the first half with a dunk by Jeff Graves, assisted by one of Aaron Miles’ 10 assists that game.  Kansas outshined Oklahoma 23-9 in assists and out rebounded the sooners 39-25. The win pushed the Jayhawks to 7-0 in conference home games.

UP NEXT
Kansas travels to the University of Texas for an ESPN Big Monday matchup on Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. Central at Erwin Center. Kansas will then host Iowa State to close out the regular season on Saturday, March 5, at 3 p.m. on ESPN. Looking ahead to the Big 12 Championship at Sprint Center in Kansas City, March 9-12, KU will begin the tournament on Thursday, March 10, in the quarterfinal round.

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